ORACLE OF JUDGEMENT AND RESTORATION: AN EXEGETICAL AND INTERTEXTUAL ANALYSIS OF JEREMIAH 23:1-8

Abstract

This article examines the oracle of indictment and restoration in Jeremiah 23: 1-8, which seeks to address the shepherds of Israel who scattered the sheep of Yahweh. This negligence and lack of attendant attitude is what the God of Israel is addressing to the leadership of Israel. The aim and objective of this paper is to draw clearly the thin line between indictment and restoration in Jeremiah 23 as our pivot text. In order to achieve that, the following methods were used: historical, exegetical, textual and syntactical- theological method. These approaches were found viable in researching biblical themes with accurate interpretation. The discoveries made were astounding for it reveals Yahweh's starling quality of untiring desire for shepherding it also reveals that Judgment and restoration have messianic tone; therefore, the study thus recommends that both the sacred and secular leadership should learn to give good governance to the people under their Jurisdiction for all are under the supervision of Yahweh and every leadership is answerable to Yahweh.